Fire causes $1M damage to South Beloit food facility

SOUTH BELOIT - Firefighters from 11 departments were called to help extinguish a fire at Axium Foods, 239 Oak Grove Ave., early this morning.

The fire started shortly before 6 a.m. in the exhaust system above the production area for taco chips, according to South Beloit Fire Chief Ken Morse. Flames also spread to the roof and were visible from outside the building before being contained by firefighters.

Firefighters were on scene for about three hours, Morse said. Morse said damages to production equipment and the facility are estimated to total between $1 million and $1.5 million.